Owner`s manual

152 July/August 2013 the absolute sound
below the LCD panel, while the silver version has none. Input
and output options on the black and silver 192s are identical.
The “Mastering” Stereo192-DSD-DAC has a front panel similar
to the black standard version, but instead of an analog pass-
through it substitutes a dedicated DSD input for 128x (5.6MHz)
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audiophiles who want to use an analog source, the standard
version with its analog inputs will be the more useful option.
Having the “idiot light” level-meter LEDs on the front panel
makes the blackface version my preference over the silver face.
Mytek sent me two Stereo192-DSD-DACs, a black standard
as well as a mastering version. For the review I used the standard
version. I did listen to the mastering version near the end of the
review period, primarily to see if the 400-plus hours of playing
time I had put on the standard version had any effect on the
sound compared to a brand-new unit with no playing time. There
was a profound difference. The unused mastering version had
a midrange glare and harder edge that was not present in the
broken-in sample. Anyone evaluating a Mytek Stereo192-DSD-
DAC that has not been thoroughly broken-in hasn’t really heard
how a Mytek Stereo192-DSD-DAC can sound. I recommend at
least 200 hours with an active signal. I left my review sample
tethered to a Logitech Duet tuned to my local public radio’s
Internet feed for nearly two weeks before I placed it into my
desktop system.
Setup and Day-to-Day Use
Installing the Mytek Stereo192-DSD-DAC in my desktop system
was easy and straightforward. It has a single pair of balanced
XLR outputs as well as a single RCA single-ended output. The
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Velodyne DD10+ subwoofer. The Mytek is unique among the
three DAC/pre’s in this review because it has a FireWire input
in addition to its USB inputs. I connected both the FireWire
and USB connections from my computer as well as a S/PDIF
feed from an Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 5 USB to S/PDIF
converter.
The Stereo192-DSD-DAC has two USB inputs, one for 1.0
USB and the other for 2.0. For both Macs and PCs you need to
download and install a driver to support USB 2.0. If you don’t
have the proper driver, you can use the 1.0 USB input sans driver.
Given how easy it was to install the Mytek driver, I can’t think of
any reason besides being completely cut off from the Internet
for not downloading and installing the Mytek drivers. Once
USB and FireWire drivers were installed, both the USB 2.0 and
FireWire outputs were recognized and visible in my Mac’s Audio
MIDI control panel.
The Mytek’s front panel has only one knob, three pushbuttons,
a 3" by ½" LED front-panel display, a ¼" stereo headphone
output, and an on/off switch. The knob does quadruple-duty,
serving as an independent volume control for both rear-panel
outputs as well as for the headphone level. Also by pushing the
volume control in slightly it converts to a mode selector that
turns to select different options within each mode. A push while
in a mode selects whichever choice is displayed in the front panel
LED read-out. This multi-function control-design does require
some “user training.” But after using the Stereo192-DSD-DAC
Mytek Stereo192-DSD-DAC
Conversion: 32-bit, PCM up to
192k, 64x DSD, 128x DSD
Digital inputs: S/PDIF, AES/
EBU, TosLink, all up to 192k
single wire (64xDSD and
128XDSD SDIF DSD
interface on Mastering
Version)
Analog inputs: One pair single-
ended RCA
Outputs: One pair balanced
XLR, one pair unbalanced RCA,
one headphone output
Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.72" x 8.5"
Weight: 6 lbs.
Price: $1595
MYTEK DIGITAL
148 India Street, 1st Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11222
[phone]
mytekdigital.com
Benchmark DAC2 HGC
Conversion: 32-bit, PCM up to
194kHz, 64x DSD
Analog inputs: One stereo pair
Digital inputs: One USB, two
optical, two coaxial
Outputs: One pair balanced
XLR, two pairs unbalanced
RCA, one headphone output
Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.725" x
9.33"
Weight: 3 lbs.
Price: $1995
BENCHMARK MEDIA
SYSTEMS, INC.
203 East Hampton Place,
Suite 2
Syracuse, NY 13206
[phone]
(800-BNCHMRK)
[e-mail]
Lynx Hilo
Conversion: 24-bit, PCM up to
192kHz, 64x DSD
Analog inputs: One pair
balanced XLR
Digital inputs: One AES/
EBU, one S/PDIF coaxial, one
TosLink, one USB
Outputs: One pair balanced
XLR, one pair single-ended
RCA, one headphone output
Dimensions: 8.50" x 3.25" x
10.00"
Weight 6.75 lbs.
Price: $2495
LYNX STUDIO TECHNOLOGY,
INC.
190 McCormick Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626-3307
[phone]
[e-mail]
ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
Source Devices: MacPro
model 1.1 Intel Xeon 2.66
GHz computer with 16 GB
of memory with OS 10.6.7,
running iTunes 10.6.3 and
Amarra 2.5 music playing
software, Pure Music 1.85
music playing software, and
Audirana Plus 1.35 music
playing software
Amplifiers: April Music
Eximus S-1, Accuphase P-300,
Parasound A-23
Speakers: Aerial Acoustics 5B,
ATC SC-7, ProAC Anniversary
Tablettes, Role Audio Canoe,
Golden Ear Aon 2, Silverline
Miuet Plus, Velodyne DD+ 10
subwoofer
Cables and Accessories:
Wireworld USB cable,
Synergistic Research USB
cable, AudioQuest Carbon
USB cables. PS Audio Quintet,
AudioQuest CV 4.2 speaker
cable, AudioQuest Colorado
interconnect, Cardas Clear
interconnect, and Crystal
Cable Piccolo interconnect
SPECS & PRICING
EQUIPMENT REPORT - Three New DSD-Capable DACs
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